Curb and motor support for centrifugal extractors



Aug. 16, 1949. o. w. JOHNSON ET AL 2,479,365

CURB AND MOTOR SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Filed July 13, 1946 3Sheets-Sheet 1 I7 I H Q III I' H: t

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OSCAR w SSSSSON 8. GLYJSTAV o.' SOMMERHALTER A ORNEYS g- 16, 1949- o. w.JOHNSON ET AL 2,479,365

CURB AND MOTOR SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Filed July 15, 1946 3Sheets-Sheet 2 46 sq 49 O FIG-3 O O L 5| k FIG-5 5 HQ 4 OSCAR.ILHVVISNTOR OHNSON 8 Ct+STAV O. SOMMERHALTER 4.1%. ATTORNEYS 1949 o. w.JOHNSON ET AL 2,479,365

CURB AND MOTOR SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUQAL EXTRAGTORS Filed July 13, 1946 3Sheets-Sheet 3 W FIG-8 ml- 57 I "mm I 5 1 59 27 5a 58 5 FlG.-7 l= 2 I IFIG-6 INVENTORS OSCAR w JOHNSON s. 4 GUSTAV o. SOMMERHALTER Ll BYATTORNEYS Patented All 1c, 1949 aaasos AND moron sUrroa'r Foacan'rau'ucar. nxrnac'roas Oscar W. Johnson and Gustav 0. Sommerhalter,

Rochester, N. Y., align Machinery Laundry This invention relatu tocentrifugal extractors such as are used'in laundries or dry cleaningplants for removing liquid detergent or cleansing agent from wearingapparel, flatwork or other articles made of textile fabrics, or even inother arts, such as in the sugar industry. The invention has particularrelation to the means and manner of supporting both the curb and drivnlmechanism of an underdriven extractor.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved extractor in whichthe metal of the curb is uniformly and symmetrically distributed aroundthe central axis and said curb is so mounted that, except for theeffects of unbalanced load and the motor drive connections, theconstruction tends to absorb and dampen lateral gyratory motion of theswinging parts and reduce vibration.

Another object is to provide an improved extractor in which the drivingmotor is supported independently of the curb but in a manner to movewith it, thus maintaining uniform belt tension and avoiding shock andjar dueto vibration.

Still another object is to provide an improved extractor in which themotor and curb, although supported independently are connected orharnessed, as it were, so that all movable parts are self-accommodatingto the complex movements caused by uneven basket loading.

Another object is to provide an improved extractor in which both theextractor and motor are mounted to swing about overhead points lying inthe same horizontal plane, so that they move in unison, and to the sameextent. 7

Further objects are to generally simplify and improve the mounting orsupport for both extractor and motor and thus reduce costs ofinstallation and service, and the harmful effects of vibration and wear.

Other objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of one form ofextractor embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof on the line 2-4, Fig. 3;

Pig. 3isaplan view;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the motor port. the

I-I, Pig. 3

6 is a H. 8-

and its supview being taken from the left in Fig. 3; is a detailsectional elevation on the line detail bottom plan view on the line onto. The American Company, Cincinnati, 1 a corporation of Ohio 1""[Applicaiion July is. 1940, Serial No. 3,510

both 12 Claims. (01. 210-12) 2 Fig. 7 isadetails'ectionalviewonthelinel-l,

; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevation, corresponding to Fig. 2, but ona larger scale. showing a part of one of the curb supports.

The extractor shown in the drawings, speaking generally, is ofwell-known common form, so that but brief reference to many of its partsis suflicient. As illustrated it includes a base ll resting on the flooror other support and provided with a series, three being shown, ofupright hollow pillars II from which depend links I! connected at theirlower ends to arms I 8 secured to the bottom member id of curb ll, sothat the curb is freely movable horizontally in any direction upperportion 22 of which serves as a brake drum for cooperation with a brakeband 23 operated in any suitable manner, as by lever 24, Fig. 3.

The basket is rotated by a belt or belts 2! connecting pulley ii to adriving pulley 28 mounted on the shaft 21 of motor II which is securedto amember 29 suitably mounted for free horizontal motion to and froradially only with respect to the central axis, such as by mounting itto swing upon a suitable fixed or stationary support which, for example,consists of an arm or arms mounted upon one of the pillars I I, andwhich is so shown, although a separate arm support may be used for thepurpose. Such a motor mounting supports the motor upon the stationarybase entirely independently of the curb and basket unit. Thus theweigh-t of the motor need not be taken into account from the standpointof balance when considering the distribution of the metal of the rapidlyspinning basket and its load around the central axis.

Referring first to the curb supports, the several pillars II are spacedor distributed uniformly or symmetrically about the central verticalaxis at spindle it, so that the total curb and basket weight, except forpossible unbalanced work load, is uniformly distributed around saidaxis. Links I! are rigid rods or shafts, but they are connected to thecurb and supporting pillars in such manner as to provide universalmotion or free swing at ends of the links. Since the connections at bothends of each link are alike, description of but one is necessary.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 8, a reduced end porwasher 36. The lowerbushings support the curb.

A clamp nut 31, secured by lock washer 5'58 and cotter pin 39, securelyclamps the bushings center plate against the shoulder 39 of the shaft,while a lock nut 40, threaded into the housing; compresses the cushions35. This lock nut may be split, as at 4 I, and be distorted by set screw42, for locking it in place. A removable cover cap 43 closes the housingon pillar I I, that in curb member [3 usually requiring no cover.Pillars Il may be provided with any necessary doors 44 for access to themoving parts housed within them.

As before stated, in the form shown, one of the pillars II at the leftin Fig. serves as the base for carrying the support for the drivingmotor. For this purpose, said pillar is bifurcated, as shown in Figs. 4and 5, to form two legs straddling an opening Ila (Fig. 2) between them,and also is provided with an outwardly extending, bifurcated, horizontalarm 45, the parallel side portions of which are provided with supportingseats 46, on which are adjustably mounted, as by bolts 41 passingthrough elongated slots 48, blocks 49 in which are journalled pins 50 onwhich the member 29 is mounted, thus enabling the motor to swingradially inwardly or outwardly, with reference to the spindle axis,about a horizontal axis at the pivot pins 50. This latter axis, it willbe noted, is at substantially the same horizontal level as the centersof the cushioned mounts at the upper ends of links l2, while of coursethe pulleys 2|, 26 are also on the same horizontal level with eachother. Thus by harnessing together, as it were, the lower portions ofthe motor support 29 and curb l5, a sort of parallel ruler motion issecured, with like travel of both motor and curb when either moves, andmaintaining constant the spacing between the driving and driven pulleys.

For the purpose stated, I provide a link connection between the motorsupport and curb, which preferably also includes means for adjustingbelt tension, as will appear.

Motor 28 is bolted at 5| through slots 5|a to the rear wall 52 of ahousing portion of member 29, the floor 53 of said housing having a slot54 (Figs. 2 and 6) through which the motor shaft extends. To the bottomsurface of said floor are secured, by bolts 55, the parallel side arms56 of a yoke 51. Set screws 58, 59 enable the yoke to be adjustedradially, with reference to spindle l9, bolts 55 moving along slots 60forthe purpose. Yoke 51 is connected by double cievis 6| to a rigid draglink 62, extending through an opening Ila between the spaced legs ofhifurcated pillar II, and the opposite end of which link'is connected bya similar double clevis 63 to a bracket 64 fast on the bottom of thecurb member l4. This arrangement provides uni: versal relative motion,on both horizontal and vertical axes, both between the drag link and themotor support and between the drag link and curb.

Of course, the belts 25 should be selected of the proper length for thepurpose. Assuming that, when the parts are properly assembled and allare at rest, the center of gravity 0! the pendant motor unit, includingmember 29, motor 23. pulley 26 and other parts attached thereto, shouldbe directly beneath the axis of pins 50. Blocks 49 may be adjusted onarm 45 to secure that relation, set screws ea, 59 being used to adjustor read ust bait tension when necessary. Ear-denied ose clue motor "a "aer, enables uhe inc: tor readily to accommodate itself to the complexlateral effects due to gyratlon and precession. The manner of harnessingtogether and mounting the curb and motor also enables them to move inunison and without undue restraining influence of either upon the other.All of this contributes to the damping out of or reduction in vibratorymovement, thus avoiding pounding and unnecessary wear. At the same timebelt tension is always maintained uniform, with high efficiency in theproduction of driving torque and with the ability to secure any speedratio by the use of pulleys appropriately differing in size.

What we claim is:

1. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a support,curb and motor members pivotally mounted upon said support independentlyof each other in side by side relation and thereby adapted to swingabout different centers lying at substantially the same level, a

basket rotatable in the curb member and prof vided with a spindle, themotor member having a shaft, driving and driven pulleys on said shaftand spindle, an endless belt connecting the pulleys, a rigid linkconnecting the curb and motor members for maintaining uniform thetenslon of said belt, and universal couplings at opposite ends of saidlink, one connecting it to the motor member and the other to the curbmemher.

2. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a baseprovided with three pillars uniformly spaced about a central verticalaxis, a curb, a basket rotatable therein, supporting links connectingthe upper ends of said pillars to the curb to suspend the basket inposition to swing with said links and to rotate about the central axis,a motor movably mounted upon one of said pillars for free travel backand forth radially relative to the central axis, flexible driving meansconnecting the motor and basket at a low level, and a drag linkconnecting the motor and curb.

3. Extractor mechanism of the character described in claim 2, includingmeans for varying the effective length of said drag link.

4. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising a fixedsupport, a curb, a

basket rotatable in the curb, a series of supporting links for said curbspaced uniformly around the axis of basket rotation, each connected atits lower end to the curb and at its upper end being movably connectedto the support for lateral swinging motion in any direction, whereby thecurb and basket are free to swing laterally in any direction, a motorcarrying member movably mounted upon said support with its weightcarried by the support independently of the curb, said motor beingmovable upon and with reference to the support back and forth only in aplane radial to said axis, belt means connecting the motor and basket,and link means connecting the motor carrying member and curb so thatmotion of either is transmitted to the other.

5. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising astationary support provided with three pillars spaced at intervalsaround a central vertical axis and symmetrically disposed on oppositesides of a vertical plane through said axis and one of said threepillars, a curb and basket unit, suspension means connecting the curb toall three pillars to suspend it therefrom with its total weightdistributed symmetrically around said axis, said unit thereby beingswingable universally back and forth in all directions with reference tosaid axis, a motor movably mounted upon and with reference to said onepillar for travel back and forth in said plane, the

weight of said motor being carried by said one pillar and the supportindependently of the curb, driving means connecting the motor andbasket, and rigid linkage connecting the curb and motor for maintainingtheir spacing unaffected by motion of either thereof.

6. Extractor mechanism of the character described in claim 5, said onepillar being bifurcated to provide an opening therethrough, and saiddriving means and linkage both extending through said opening.

7. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising astationary base, a curb member having a basket mounted. therein torotate about a vertical .axis, three pendant links swingably secured attheir upper ends to the base in the same horizontal plane and at theirlower ends to the curb at three points spaced substantially uniformlyabout said axis, whereby the total weight of all swinging partssupported by said links is distributed substantially uniformly about thecentral axis, a motor support pivotally mounted upon and with referenceto the base at one side of the curb at a. point lying at substantiallythe same level as the upper ends of said links and located radiallyoutwardly from said axis beyond one of said links, a motor mounted uponsaid motor support with its weight carried by the base independently ofthe curb, the. motor and basket being each provided with a shaftcarrying a pulley, endless flexible driving means connecting saidpulleys, and means connecting the curb and motor support for maintaininguniform the tension of said driving means.

8. Extractor mechanism of the character described in claim 7, "in whichsaid last named means comprises a rigid link and universal joint meansconnecting opposite ends of said link with the motor and curb,respectively.

9. Extractor mechanism of the character described in claim 8, includingadjusting means for 7 8 the effective length of said rigid link and theconsequent spacing between the motor and basket shafts.

10. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising astationary support provided with three pillars spaced at intervalsaround a central vertical axis, a curb and basket unit, means forsuspending said unit from and between said pillars for universalswinging motion in all directions back and forth across said axis andwith the total weight of the unit distributed uniformly around saidaxis, a motor supported independently of the curb by oneonly of saidpillars and lying in a vertical plane extending radially outwardly fromsaid axis through said one pillar, means for mounting said motor uponits supporting pillar for free travel with reference to the support backand forth in said plane, driving means connecting the motor and basketand extending beneath the curb, and rigid linkage connecting the motorand curb.

11. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising astationary support, a curb, a basket rotatable therein on a verticalaxis, means for suspending said curb from the support for free swingingmotion to and fro horizontally in any direction with respect to saidvertical axis, the total weight of all parts thus suspended beingdistributed symmetrically about said vertical axis, a motor, means forsuspending said motor from said support independently of the curb on ahorizontal hinge axis so that it swings to and fro in a vertical planesubstantially radial with respect to said axis, driving means connectingthe motor and basket, and rigid linkage connecting the motor and curbfor maintaining them in definite spaced relation unaffected by swingingmotion of either.

12. Extractor mechanism of the character described, comprising asupport, a curb, a basket rotatable about a vertical axis therein, meansfor suspending the curb from the support for free swinging movementhorizontally in any direction, a motor, means for mounting themotormovably upon and with reference to the support independently of andat one side of the curb for travel back and forth with reference to saidaxis, means for maintaining uniform spacing between the curb and motor,and driving means operatively connecting the motor and basket.

OSCAR W. JOHNSON. GUSTAV O. sommnmn'ma.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 83,547 Austria 1908

